Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Prime Minister of Australia Hon. Scott Morrison held the 2nd India-Australia Virtual Summit today during which they reviewed the multi-faceted relationship between the two countries and exchanged views on regional and global developments.
At the outset, Prime Minister Modi expressed his condolences on the destruction caused by severe flooding in New South Wales and Queensland, and the resultant loss of lives.
Both the leaders expressed satisfaction at the progress made under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established during the 1st Virtual Summit in June 2020. Prime Minister Modi expressed his satisfaction at the enhanced scope of the relationship which now covers diverse areas such as trade and investments, defence and security, education and innovation, science and technology, critical minerals, water management, new and renewable energy technology, Covid-19 related research, etc.
Prime Minister Modi thanked Hon. Scott Morrison for the special gesture in returning 29 ancient artefacts to India. These artefacts comprise sculptures, paintings and photographs, across centuries, some dating back to the 9th-10th century, from different parts of India. The artefacts include 12th century Chola bronzes, 11th-12th century Jain sculptures from Rajasthan, 12th-13th century sandstone Goddess Mahisasuramardini from Gujarat, 18th-19th century paintings and early gelatin silver photographs.
Prime Minister Modi thanked Prime Minister Morrison for taking care of the Indian community, including the Indian students, in Australia during Covid-19 pandemic.
Both the leaders also appreciated the increasing strategic convergence between the two countries as fellow democracies with shared values and common interests, which include a free, open, inclusive, and prosperous Indo-Pacific.
A Joint Statement was issued on the occasion covering various aspects of the deepening Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Both sides also agreed to establish annual summits between the Prime Ministers under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, thus adding a special dimension to the bilateral relationship.
कई अन्य क्षेत्र, जैसे critical minerals, water management, renewable energy, Covid-19 रिसर्च में भी हमारे बीच collaboration तेज़ी से बढ़ा है।
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) March 21, 2022
बेंगलुरु में Centre of Excellence for Critical and Emerging Technology Policy की स्थापना की घोषणा का मैं स्वागत करता हूँ: PM
पिछले कुछ वर्षों में हमारे संबंधों में उल्लेखनीय प्रगति हुई है।
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) March 21, 2022
Trade और investment, defence और security, education और innovation, science and technology – इन सभी क्षेत्रों में हमारा बहुत क़रीबी सहयोग है: PM @narendramodi at India-Australia virtual summit
CECA का शीघ्र समापन हमारे आर्थिक संबंधों, economic revival और economic security के लिए महत्त्वपूर्ण होगा।
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) March 21, 2022
Quad में भी हमारे बीच अच्छा सहयोग चल रहा है।
हमारा यह सहयोग free, open और inclusive Indo-Pacific के प्रति हमारी प्रतिबद्धता को दर्शाता है: PM @narendramodi
प्राचीन भारतीय कलाकृतियों को लौटाने की पहल के लिए मैं आप को विशेष रूप से धन्यवाद देना चाहता हूँ।
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) March 21, 2022
इनमें राजस्थान, पश्चिम बंगाल, गुजरात, हिमाचल प्रदेश के साथ कई अन्य भारतीय राज्यों से अवैध तरीकों से निकाली गयी सैकड़ों वर्ष पुरानी मूर्तियाँ और चित्र हैं: PM @narendramodi